14-9-2023 (SYDNEY) Australia has experienced its highest rate of population growth in over a decade, fueled by a significant increase in overseas migration. According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday, the country’s population grew by 2.17 percent in the 12 months leading up to the end of March, reaching a total of 26.47 million people.
This marks the highest annual growth rate since December 2008 when the population grew by 2.19 percent. Beidar Cho, the head of demography at the ABS, highlighted the influx of migrants following the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary driver behind this surge in population.
In a media release, Cho stated, “Thirteen months after international borders were reopened, net overseas migration accounted for 81 percent of the growth and added 454,400 people to the population in the year to March 2023.”
Comparatively, in the 12 months leading up to March 2022, the population grew by 1.0 percent, a period during which Australia’s international borders remained closed for the majority of the time.
ABS data reveals that 681,000 migrants arrived in Australia during the year to March 2023, indicating a significant increase of 103 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, 226,600 people left the country to reside overseas.
The natural increase in the population, resulting from births minus deaths, amounted to 108,800 people. During the year to March, there were 301,200 registered births and 192,300 deaths. Deaths were 7.9 percent higher than the 12-month period ending in March 2022, while births were 3.4 percent lower.
In terms of regional variations, Western Australia experienced the highest population growth over the 12-month period, with a rate of 2.8 percent. On the other hand, Tasmania, an island state, had the lowest growth rate at 0.4 percent.
